Manufacture of brick



(N0 ModL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. N. S. WILLET.

MANUFACTURE OF BRICK.

No. 316,200. Paten-ged Apr. 7, 1885.

(No ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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MANUFACTURE OF BRICK- No. 315,200. 9- Patente d Apr. 7, 1885.

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(No Model.)

N. S. WILLET. MANUFACTURE OF BRICK.

No. 315,200. Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL S. WILLET, OF NEWARK, -NE\V JERSEY.

MANUFACTURE OF BRICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,200, dated April 7,1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL S.WILLET, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of andApparatus for the Manufacture of Brick; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,sucli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an improved process of and apparatus for themanufacture of brick, whereby certain new and important advantages aresecured and other disadvantages in the manufacture of brick obviated.

The primary object of this invention is to prevent access of rain andfrost to the clay, both While it is in its original bank, bed, or pit,and subsequently while it is undergoing the process of mixing, molding,drying, and whilein course of transportation from the mixing-pit to themolding-machine, and from the latter to the drying structure, wherebybrick may be manufactured in large quantities throughout the yearwithout regard to the state of the atmosphere,whether it be warm orfrosty, wet or dry.

Heretofore claypits, mixingpits, brick forming or molding machines, andthe brickyard have been detached from one another, and the clay-pits,andordinarily the structures above enumerated, have been so exposed andopen that the process of brick-manufacture has been greatly hindered orentirely stopped during a rain-storm, and during the winter in colderclimates all operations have been in terrupted.

By my invention the frost and rain are prevented from gaining access tothe clay, and the processes of manufacture may thus be made continuous.

A secondary object of the invention is to improve the quality of thebrick and to reduce the cost and facilitate the manufacture of the same.1

The invention consists in the process of manufacturing brick, and in thearrangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will behereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the several clauses ofthe claim.

In the accompanyingdrawings, comprised in four sheets, in which similarletters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures,Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a ground plan of the tempering-pits,brick-machine, brick-board benches, boiler and engine house, and thedrying structure, showing the relative position of the parts. Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal section of the drying structure. Fig. 3 is asection of a brickboard attached or pivoted to a bench. Fig. 4, Sheet 2,is an end elevation of the drying structure. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection of a part of a claybank and the roof inclosing it. Fig. 6 is aside elevation of a brick-board. Fig. 7 is a top View of the same, andFig. Sabottom view. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a brick-kiln, partlyin section. Fig. 10 is aground plan of a part of the kiln, and Fig. 11isaside elevation of the same. Fig. 12, Sheet 4, is a side view, partlysectional, of the brick making and drying-mechanism and structures, andFig. 13 a side sectional view of the inclosed claybank.

In carrying out the invention I construct and arrange under onecontinuous roof and surrounded by one wall or series of walls thetempering-pits A in which the clay taken from the clay pit or bank B isworked to prepare it for the molding process, the brickmachine 13, inwhich the said clay is formed into green bricks, and drying-racks O onwhich said green bricks taken from the brickmachine are dried prior tothe subsequent burning process. Between the mixing-pits and drying-racksare placed brick-board benches, as shown in Fig. 1, and on the oppositeside of the said rack the kiln E is erected. This structure ispreferably connected at the roof and sides-with the drying-racks, butnot necessarily so, as it will be evident that there will be no dangerafter the bricks are dry of their being injured by frost. It will thusbe observed that the clay, from the time it reaches the tempering-pitsuntil it reaches in a dry state the kiln, is prevented from beingfrozen, and also that the manufacture and drying of the brick is notinterfered with or even retarded by rain or dampness.

To enable clay free from frost tobe obtained I end to end of thestructure, and arranged in in sufficient quantities during the winter, Iin close the clay pit or bank B, Figs. 5 and 13, with a shed orinclosure, said shed extending back from the edge of thepit or bank, andthus covering enough surface to free enough clay from frost to lastthrough the season. Said sheds or inclosures are supported by posts A,driven into the bank 13, which posts are of sufficient length and aredriven sufficiently deep to act as standards when the bank is removed.Stoves or other suitable heating apparatus may be used within the sheds,which latter are built out from the bank to secure workingroom.

Because of the relation of the several structures, the various steps inmaking the brick are carried on most systematically and, completely allunnecessary handling of the brick being thereby avoided. The clay istaken from the bank to the tempering-pits, which may be adjacent, thenplaced in the brick machine, where the green brick are made, and thenplaced upon the brick-boards and within the drying-house; thence theyare removed to the kiln, where the process is completed.

-While the arrangement herein shown and described is preferred, I amaware thatthe relation of the parts may be changed, and'hence I do'notwish to limit myselfto the exact arra ngement specified. Only thosesteps in the process which are closely connected, one following theother, should be conducted in structures, and all the structuresconnected by one continuous roof or cover.

The tempering-pits employed in my system are similar to those already inuse, except in being under cover and completely protected, three pitsbeing used to one drying-house, in stead of two, as are now employed,the increased number being necessary to supply the amount of clayrequired by my improved drying arrangements. The interiors of the shedsare heated by stoves or other suitable heating apparatus to maintain theright temperature.

The brick-machines are of the usual pattern, and are placed between thepits, and the drying-house being also under cover and pro tected.

The drying structure is constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 4, having double walls of boards or other suitable material, witha space between, the inner wall being provided all around the house atthe bottom with openings a, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, placed at suitabledistances apart. Openings 1) are also provided in the outer wall towardthe top, placed at intervals apart corresponding to the openings a,being providedwith doors I), suitably hung. openings communication ishad between the inside and the outside of the drying-house, thus servingas fines through which the damp air from within can escape.

Within the drying-house 0, Figs. 1 and 2, are uprights whichsupport therafters. d are cleats secured to said uprights, extending from similarto the side walls.

By means of thesee are rollers extending between the cleats d,

Fig. 4, and working in hearings in or on the same, being placed neartogether and extending the wholelength of the cleats in rows, one abovethe other, placed at suitable distances apart.

fare skylights in the roof to lighten thein terior of the house andmodify the temperature thereof. 9, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, are steampipes,placed preferably on the floor, one end of which is connected with theboiler in the engine-house'A. The other end may return to the boiler, orexhaust in the air, or. conduct the steam to other parts of my yardwhere necessary. The ends of the drying-house arefurther provided withdoorsh and hin the outer and inner walls, respectively,sothat access maybe had within the house. Theflue-openings a and-b are made in the doors,as-shown in'Fig. 4, so that when closed they act as fines, The doorsareheld in position preferably by buttons-t, Fig. 4, so that they may betaken out and removed entirely when the drying-house is being filledwith brick. Thermometersj, Fig; 4, may be placed on the inner doors,andopenings j, covered with glass, made in the outer doors, so that thetemperature within can be observed and'regulated'.

7c arebrick-boards placed upon the rollers in the drying-house, as shownin Figs. 2 and 4. The rollers being pitched toward the rear,

the boards by their own weight tendtomove down on, the rollers; but inorder tofacilitate their motion cords Z, provided with loops atintervals, which catch upon hooks placed in the ends of thebrick-boards, as in- Figs. 2,! 6, 7, and 8, may be'used. I

Other devices may be used to-accomplish the same result; but I preferthe one described. The brick-boards are further provided with smallrollers or window-sheaves, m, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, placed in the sideedges, as shown, which still further assist the boards in rnov ing onthe rollers by bearing against the'cleats and preventing the boardswedging between said cleats. The brick having. been removed from theboards and piled within the kiln, the boards are placed upon thereturn-rollers m, as shown in Fig. 2, saidrollers formingan inclinedtable or support over which the empty brick-boards gravitate or slidefrom 7 one side or end of the drying structuretothe so as to secure freecirculation of air around the brick, and on each end of the boards areIIO provided lugs p, which keep the boards apart and form openingsbetween the boards when upon the rollers.

Hooks or projections q, Fig. 3, are secured to the brick-board benches,which fit or work within recesses q, Fig. 8, in the under side of thebrick-boards. These'hooks serve as pivots upon which the brick-boardsrotate, as described in a former patent, after being filled with brickfrom the machine.

Window-sheaves or small rollers It may be placed on the bottom of theboards, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. In this case the rollers e in thedryinghouse may be dispensed with, the boards moving on the cleatsorprepared ways.

The brick-kiln is constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and11, Sheet 3, having concrete walls and bottom of suitable thickness, andis placed with the roof of the sheds-p abutting against the roof or endof the drying structure. Grates 1*, Figs. 9 and 10, are built in theconcrete bottoms, the ashpits extending down into the same, and fur-.nace-doors 0" being provided in the walls at each grate.

In order to secure the proper draft, I provide a pipe, 8, extendingthrough the concrete, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, with branch pipes 15running under each grate, provided with dampers t, extending out throughthe walls, as shown. A blower or other suitable device may be employedto supply the draft. Damp-air flues u are built in the walls, as shownin Fig. 9. Port-holes 1;, Fig. 9, covered with isinglass, are providedin the walls, through which the relation of the brick within the kiln tothe-guide-rods 1; may be noted. Ihe roof may be covered with boiler-ironsupported by iron rafters resting upon iron plates upon the top of theconcrete walls.

Draft-regulators to, Figs. 9 and 11, provided with suitable contrivancesfor opening racks composed of uprights and cleats to re-,

ceive the brick-boards, and having steampipes laid therein, allsubstantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a brick-drying structure arranged with hollow wallsand having steampipes or other apparatus for producing artificial heat,and provided with racks formed of uprights and cleats, and provided withrollers to receive brick-boards, and said brickboards adapted to receivethe bricks, all substantially as herein set forth.

3. A brick-drying structure provided with hollow walls, uprights, andcleats, and an inclined table or support adapted to be varied to directthe brick-board from one side of the drying structure to the other,substantially as set forth.

4. A drying structure heated by steam, having double walls and damp-airflues, as a and Z), removable doors, as h h, uprights c, cleats, as d,rollers, as e, and means, as m, for returning the brick-boards, allsubstantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this27th day of August, 1883.

NATHANIEL S. WILLET.

Witnesses:

F. F. CAMPBELL, OLIVER DRAKE.

